Archive for: scandal
- October 27, 2010 12:35 pm
Well this would certainly qualify for “scandalous” — A source of BGR close to one of the manufacturers for Apple’s iPhone 4 has come forward to shed some potentially saddening news. Specifically, the delays Apple is torturing us with are supposedly mere smokescreens for the cold hard truth — the iPhone 4 in white garb has been cancelled. The delays are an “easy” way to keep the original issue (paint matching between back case and home button) at bay while also allowing Apple to push off the possible fix until the iPhone 5 drops.
Speaking of that paint matching issue, the same source also claims that the manufacturers aren’t saying anything confirming Apple’s (and the rest of the world’s) belief that it was a manufacturing issue, and that that is a second smokescreen to the real issue. What that “real” issue exactly is isn’t mentioned. It’s certianly believable that Apple would purposely holding back the white iPhone 4, instead aiming to pick up the pieces and continue on with the iPhone 5. But it just seems so…odd. Though as all things of this nature go, tread lightly and avoid the salt.
Update
A post over at Cult of Mac points the blame finger at not the home button or mis-matched back case, but the camera. Specifically, the rumor (that we’ve heard tossed around a bit before) claims that the translucent white glass back of the white iPhone 4 lets too much light back into the case, screwing around with the camera sensor. As such, all pictures taken with the white iPhone 4 are washed out. This issue is magnified when using the flash. A “source close to the matter and Apple” said that the issue is severe enough that a complete redesign of the phone is looking to be the only solution — hence the multiple delays.
That definitely sounds plausible. Why can’t Apple just tell us what’s going on?
Update
And now the white iPhone has been pulled again. Cancelled? It’s looking more like it…
Whether or not you feel Gizmodo operated outside of the law — or at the very least, outside of the ethics of journalism — regarding the circumstances surrounding the lost iPhone and their admission in paying for it, you can’t help but want to joke about it. And who better to make fun of Apple and corporate America than John Stewart…?
Do I condone what Tiger Woods did? No. Does that mean we can’t have a quick laugh off of a mobile app that plays off of his bad decisions? Why certainly not. Enter the realm of “TigerTexts”. First I’d like to highlight the name is brilliant, genius, funny, if even it is a bit brash. But that’s beside the point. The real focal point of this app is that texting can be done in “safety”. Safety of course meaning that anything and everything you say self destructs after a short time (60 seconds to be exact) on both the sender and receivers phones! Ya, that’s nifty. For the behind-the-scenes action, both users have to have TigerText installed so that any and all traces of your poor decisions are erased from reality.
And just to toss in there, TigerTexts founder Jeffery Evans, “TigerTexts” got it’s name BEFORE the whole Tiger Woods scandal. Hmmm, releasing an app to hide shifty conversations, slapping a cute little furry tiger on the icon, and claiming all was set in stone before such a mass publicized scandal was leaked to the world seems a little hard to believe at this point.
Benefit of the doubt?
- Pick up TigerTexts in the App Store (iTunes Link) for free (trial) or pony up $1.49 – $2.49 per month depending on how important hiding that
second third ok…those multiple lifestyles you so desperately want to keep under wraps.
You could always be hiding mom’s Christmas present, no…?
GizmoDiva > Mashable
NPR
- December 17, 2009 12:47 pm
You know, every day that I’m not on AT&T I pat myself on the back. How many times have we heard AT&T PR fluff (most recently from CEO Ralph de la Vega himself) stating that AT&T simply can’t keep up with the massive data usage increases since the iPhone’s launch? Charts circulated several weeks back showing the 5,000% increase in AT&T data traffic clearly. A small shred of mercy may have been doled out but a select few. However, a new report published today by the AP in conjunction with a blog post by Fake Steve calls attention to two glaring facts proving AT&T is (1) lying about network problems and (2) out to nickel and dime every single customer they can.
- AT&T has spent less on wireless network upgrades and new construction each quarter since the the 1st gen iPhone’s launch.
How many times per day do we here AT&T — and more recently CEO Ralph de la Vega — bitching about being cash strapped, unable to keep up with data demand, and ultimately burning their candle at both ends?
- Wireless data revenue is up 80% since the 1st gen iPhone’s ’07 launch.
AT&T is complaining they can’t keep up with demand and that the network is in such dire shape, unlimited plans will have to be dropped in order to make way for tiered (read: overpriced) pricing and data plans yet data revenue is up 80%. So what are they doing with all of the profit?!
Doesn’t anyone see what’s going on? They’re riding this iPhone wave into an entirely different dimension. Their network sucks. This is a known scientific fact proven by countless reports, tests, and studies. But the network doesn’t suck because they can’t keep up with network upgrades and expansions. It sucks because they are falsely limiting network upgrades and expansions.
Each year since the iPhone has launched they’ve spent less on building the network up and out since ’07. It’s a crowbar to the face of every AT&T customer as well as every American. Seriously. I know there will always be greedy corporate entities taking advantage of the american public at large. But the way AT&T is going about it is disgusting, deceiving, and downright bullshit. If I woke up tomorrow to hear AT&T’s network imploded or every tower was vandalized to the point of no return — words would not begin to explain my joy and excitement.
At this point in the game, any positive public image AT&T had is now gone, burnt to the ground, and ashes pissed on. It’s not a molehill that I’m making a mountain out of. It is a despicable, dishonest, and unethical attempt to stick it to the public. FCC: Where the hell are you at?
Remember that “Operation Chokehold” that’s been going around the web the last couple of days? It’s in your best interest to join in. Those bogus attempt to play off the whole Chokehold operation as juvenile and a threat to emergency services were the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. There network in it’s normal state is an abomination to emergency services and life itself.
Fuck You AT&T!
Gizmodo
**Update: All is well in the world again. According to HTC, the problem is actually a rouge text display problem “claiming” to be merely Rev 0 when in fact the phone can actually be in Rev A mode. Whew, crisis adverted. Happy surfing.
Well this would certainly be scandalous. It appears that a bit of strangeness is running around the Android world as of the last couple of days with Sprint’s HTC Hero officially being released. The problem appears to be centered around said devices manufacture date and support for either EV-DO Rev-0 or A. The word around various Android forums is if your Sprint Hero DOES NOT have the “Google Experience” plastered across it’s backside, your phone is stuck at Rev 0 while the *theoretically* newer Hero’s WITH “Google Experience” wordage have EV-DO Rev A support instead of the slower 0. Now, the differences between Rev 0 and A when download speeds are concerned aren’t anything to get worked up about. However, when upload speeds are concerned, well, that is something to get hot and bothered over as being limited to Rev 0 can certainly be seen as a “bad deal”.
To get to the bottom of the mystery, finding out the required information is rather simple. First, flip your phone over. Do you or don’t you see “Google Experience” on the back of your Sprint Hero? Next, do the following:
- To check your units manufactured date:
- Open Dialer
- enter: ##786#
- Scroll down to “Manufacturer’s Date”
- To Check which whether you have EV-DO Rev 0 or A:
- Navigate to: Settings > About Phone > Status > Mobile Network Type
For those who are curious or needing a baseline to compare to, Android Central’s in-house Sprint Hero has the following info:
Born on: 4/9/2009 (Sept. 4, 2009) — EV-DO Rev. 0.
Many will note that the HTC customized devices such as those running the Sense UI wouldn’t have Google branding because of various red tape and licensing issues. Units popping up with Google branding are strange to say the least as no comment or announcement has been made thus far as to why newly manufactured Hero’s are coming with said branding. Even more strange and potentially angering are reports that users owning Google branded Hero’s are seeing EV-DO Rev A support on their phones. Obvoius early adopters or those unlucky enough to get an un-Googled phone complete with yesterday’s EV-DO Rev 0 are going to be a bit peeved ultimately creating a slew of consumer returns to claim the coveted Google branded phones with their faster Rev A support.
Let’s hear it. Did you get a Sprint HTC Hero? Did it come with/without Google branding. And finally, after are you rockin’ EV-DO Rev 0 or A? Leave a word in the comments…
Android Central
RIM is making headlines tonight, and not for the right reasons. A total of 3 crooks executives have been ordered by the Ontario Securities Commission to pay a collective total of more than C$90 million back to RIM as the punishment for the three being charged with a massive backdating scandal. This is definitely not the way RIM wanted to kick off the new year…with a hefty backdating scandal tarnishing their two leading men and on ex-leading man. Jump ahead to read an excerpt of the events as posted originally by Reuters.
